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The Translator, first published in 1999, is Leila
Aboulela’s first novel. Focusing on the life of Sammar, a Sudanese
widow living in Aberdeen, this novel marks an important new
intervention in postcolonial literature through its centralisation
of religion (Islam) as the defining discourse. Though the central
character moves between Scotland, Egypt and Sudan, the narrative is
not primarily interested in national displacement, but in religious
answers to questions of identity and belonging. Moving away from
migration or post/colonial binaries as the common paradigms of
postcolonial identity, Aboulela posits an active Muslim faith as
Sammar’s primary source of identification, prioritising the
spiritual over the physical journey.<…

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Citation:
Ilott, Sarah. "The Translator". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 August 2013
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=30322, accessed 09 December 2016.]

30322The Translator3Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.